Youth Programs

The Hershey Rotary Club is part of Rotary International’s worldwide scholarship program through the local clubs that allows high school students all over the world to go to school in a foreign country for a year to broaden their experience and understanding of the wonderful world in which we live.

The program is for students with above average scholastic achievements who would like to learn the culture and language of a foreign country, and to participate in the inter-country exchange of young ambassadors as has been provided by Rotary International for over 30 years. During recent academic years, the local Rotary District has sent students to more than 25 different countries.

If you are interested in the Youth Exchange Program and would like to learn more, please contact Hershey Rotarian Dale Forshey at dforshey@loveincgreaterhershey.org. Information is also available at www.exchangestudent.org under the long-term program heading.

The Club has a need for host families for the 2024-2025 school year for our newest inbound student from Belgium.

The Hershey Rotary Club will be hosting a female student from Belgium during the 2024-2025 school year, and is seeking potential host families for a three month time period during the year. Hosting a student is a rewarding experience, creating a lifelong relationship between you and your exchange student while allowing you and your family to learn more about life in another part of the world.

Host families must live in the Derry Township School District, provide room and board , exercise normal parental responsibilities and supervision of the student, accept the student as one of the family and work with the assistance of the rotary counselor if the student encounters any difficulties. The Rotary Club provides the student with a monthly allowance for expenses and the student also has funds from their parents for clothing and entertainment. Health insurance is through Rotary International sponsored program and financial requirements of the host family are limited to room and board.

Rotary International facilitates international student exchange, which enables approximately 7,000 students to study abroad each year. More information on the program and on being a host family can be found at our website : https://rotary7390.org/page/youth-exchange. Want to learn more about hosting our newest exchange student? Contact Dale Forshey at 717-649-1101 (dforshey@loveincgreaterhershey.org).

Hershey Rotary Club supports the community’s youth through leadership programs, scholarships, monthly high school student recognition, and by sponsoring the Hershey Community Youth Alliance, a civic club bringing together Hershey High School and Milton Hershey School students. The Club also sponsors inbound foreign exchange students and outbound students who study in many locations around the globe. In addition to long-term (school year) exchange programs, Rotary also supports short-term summer exchange programs.

Rotary Student of the Month

Throughout the school year, Hershey Rotary Club honors a female and male Student of the Month from the Hershey, Milton Hershey and Middletown Area High School. The students are nominated by their schools' administrators who consider a student's academic standing and his or her commitment to the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self." Each recipient receives a certificate of honor from the Hershey Rotary Club. The awardees are also invited to a Club luncheon meeting, where they are asked to make brief remarks about their accomplishments, their passion for service-related activities, and their plans for the future. Parents or other guests of the awardees are also invited to attend the luncheon.

Rotary Service Above Self Scholarships for Senior Students

Each year, the guidance offices from Hershey High School, Milton Hershey School and Middletown Area High School, nominate students to receive a college scholarship from the Hershey Rotary Club. The Club presents each recipient with a $2,000 check at the schools' senior award assemblies.

Hershey Community Youth Alliance (HCYA)

The Student Government Associations from Hershey High School and Milton Hershey work together as a Rotary Interact Club with the support of the Hershey Rotary Club. Throughout the school year, the student club works on community fundraising events and creates awareness about each other's schools through a day-long school exchange program and other events.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

Hershey Rotary sponsors students from our local school districts to attend the annual Rotary District 7390 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program. This distinguished program gives incoming seniors an opportunity to collaborate with peers from around the region. Attendees are recommended by the administration from their respective school districts' administration.

Four-Way Test Speech Contest

Our club offers an opportunity for high school students in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades from Hershey, Milton Hershey and Middletown Area High Schools to participate in the annual Rotary District 7390 speech contest. Students compete at the local, mid-level and district level for the honor and cash prizes. Learn more.

Four-Way Test Essay Contest

Hershey Rotary Club also participates in the Rotary District 7390 Essay Contest. Designed for 9th grade students, each year the contest provides a topic that students must explore using the Rotary Four-Way Test. Students compete at the local level and district level for the honor and cash prizes. Read more.

Why Be An Exchange Student?
Every year, about 8,000 young people from around the world participate in Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program. Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time. Exchanges for students ages 15-19 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.

With Rotary's Youth Exchange program you will travel to another country, learn a new language, and experience the culture in this new land. You will live with host families as you learn about the culture as you continue your high school education.

As an unofficial ambassador for Rotary, your community and your country, you will bring the world closer together while you’re making lifetime friends.

Students spend a full academic year with two or more host families beginning in late summer. Host parents provide room and meals as well as support and guidance. The host Rotary Club provides a limited monthly spending allowance, a counselor, and supervision.

Although parents should be prepared to cover travel, health insurance and a few other costs for the outbound student, Rotary arranges travel and assists with visa arrangements. In some cases scholarships may be available to help defray exchange costs. Talk to our club contact about your individual situation.

There is also a short term exchange program that occurs each summer which involves a three week stay in a foreign country - this could be an alternative to consider as well.

If this experience sounds like something you or your child would like to learn more about, contact Dale Forshey from the Hershey Rotary Club at (dforshey@loveincgreaterhershey.org) or call 717-649-1101 for more information. Learn more on the Rotary District 7390 website.